[Albion] Does Potter really believe the team doesn’t need strengthening?

[peterward]

I suspect the will-we-won't-we sell Dunk for a massive fee has put recruitment decisions on hold for a few days - which will mean once that is resolved we will be in the panic buy period.

surely there's no chance of him leaving in Jan? At the very worst if he is sold it will be with a loan clause till end of season, when we'll get White back.

 

[Icy Gull]

surely there's no chance of him leaving in Jan? At the very worst if he is sold it will be with a loan clause till end of season, when we'll get White back.

At the risk of incurring the wrath of NSC I am not convinced Dunk is good (pace is where he falls down) enough for a top six team, there I said it

 

[peterward]

It does beggar belief.
If they are not going to bring someone in, then they are playing with fire. Its not as if any of our three are prolific anyway. You could bring in out of favour Billy Sharp and he would not be any worse than what we have. Giroud ( wages too much ) would be the answer and Batshuayi would definitely be worth a try. Our real trouble is the fact we have a largely non-goalscoring midfield, so it has to be goals from upfront or centre backs ( same old...same old )
Southampton are probably going to stay up because of one striker.

How much would Giroud cost? If he's on 100k a week, that's 2.5 million in wages for 6 months, not that loaning club ever usually pays full wages. If you could get him for half a season with loan fee for about 3ish million, it could be better value than another circa 15-20 mill punt on a 3-4 year deal. Giroud is a good PL striker and will score.

 

[Lifelong Supporter]

At the risk of incurring the wrath of NSC I am not convinced Dunk is good (pace is where he falls down) enough for a top six team, there I said it

I think what you say is common sense to be honest.

 

[Mo Gosfield]

I haven’t read the thread but I don’t think Potter is a moron, which he would have to be if he really believes we don’t need strengthening.

Whether the club are willing to break records, or get lucky in finding the big awkward goal scoring forward we need is another matter..I have pretty well given up hope of us ever doing anything other than taking a considered flyer on the kind of forward we have needed for years.

Big marquee striker signings don’t happen at the Albion.

I think part of the problem is the gap between a £15-20m striker and a £40-45m striker.
At the lower end there a lots of options because these guys are never going to get you better than 1:3 - 1:5. They are decent players but they are not match winners/season changers. Players who can go on 8-10 game runs of scoring. There are few strikers who cost between £20m and £40m because the better ones command that premium. Our budget is at the lower end of the scale and we struggle to meet the wage demands of players like Giroud, who may consider a temporary loan.
IMHO we need to be looking in the championship. Bowen would fit my bill and failing that Bradley Dack.

 

[peterward]

At the risk of incurring the wrath of NSC I am not convinced Dunk is good (pace is where he falls down) enough for a top six team, there I said it

If Batshuayi was part of that deal it may make it more attractive, except he's getting into first team squad, and I dare say he'd prefer to stay at higher wage structure Chelsea?

 

[el punal]

He continuously states we don’t need any improvements “externally”, it’s a reasoning that isn’t really backed up by any of the facts or general performances going back a year.

Surely a striker is needed. 36 year old Murray is not someone we should be relying on as an option.

And Mooy, who lets face it, is still only on loan.. is for me our most important player. When he doesn’t perform to his best (ie today), the team doesn’t quite tick.

Still a fan of GP, but find his anti transfer policy a little odd.

What do you mean his anti transfer policy a little odd? If the right player isn’t out there why go for someone who’s “wrong”. I always believe that January transfer acquisitions tend to be desperate affairs - mainly clubs that are struggling and hoping that someone new will turn things around. Obviously there are exceptions to the rule - our signing of Anthony Knockaert in 2016 being a prime example.

I’m sure Graham Potter, and the club, are well aware of what is required to improve the squad, and, as many have already stated, they are not going to reveal what’s what. At present, and with fingers crossed, I do not believe the team are struggling. We are definitely a team in transition, work in progress if you like, on all fronts. See it through to the end of the season and then recruit in the summer. Being a glass half full bloke I cannot see us repeating the dire performances of the second half of last season - trust and hope springs eternal and all that.

 

[Mo Gosfield]

How much would Giroud cost? If he's on 100k a week, that's 2.5 million in wages for 6 months, not that loaning club ever usually pays full wages. If you could get him for half a season with loan fee for about 3ish million, it could be better value than another circa 15-20 mill punt on a 3-4 year deal. Giroud is a good PL striker and will score.

Tosun has gone to Palace and scored in his first start on Saturday. There are no wages involved ( approx £90k at Everton ) and a likely deal at the end of the season.

 

[Bakero]

Tosun has gone to Palace and scored in his first start on Saturday. There are no wages involved ( approx £90k at Everton ) and a likely deal at the end of the season.

No wages?

 

[rippleman]

It’s weird how so many don’t see that. We haven’t replaced Locadia or Andone,

Let's face it, we could replace Locadia with me or BG and we'd improve!! Andone a completely different kettle of fish. Binning him off once the window had closed was very silly indeed and I fear it will cost us if we don't get a replacement in quick. And I would much rather have someone with PL experience (Giroud?) than someone who could take weeks or months to settle in the country and the PL.

 

[vagabond]

Villa this morning now strongly linked with Olivier Giroud, the teams around us are going for it....... All the while we "look for solutions within"

I would take Giroud here all day, the guy would have a field day from Trossards chances.

However I don’t think he’ll come here for a minute. Far bigger clubs will be offering him more money then we could. He’ll end up somewhere like Inter or PSG.

 

[dazzer6666]

I don't think we're not looking, we're just not publicly shouting about it..... We never do.

 

[Mo Gosfield]

No wages?

Everton have agreed some sort of deal with Palace. They want Tosun off their books and have allowed Palace to take him on loan, whilst they continue to pay his wages in full( approx £90k ) Looks like they have agreed a price for him at the end of the season ( £16-17m )

 

[Mo Gosfield]

I don't think we're not looking, we're just not publicly shouting about it..... We never do.

Hopefully Potter's laid back approach is a smokescreen and we have a target lined up.

 

[Mo Gosfield]

Let's face it, we could replace Locadia with me or BG and we'd improve!! Andone a completely different kettle of fish. Binning him off once the window had closed was very silly indeed and I fear it will cost us if we don't get a replacement in quick. And I would much rather have someone with PL experience (Giroud?) than someone who could take weeks or months to settle in the country and the PL.

Don't think Andone was GP's type of player and when his suspect temperament came to the fore v Saints, it confirmed that feeling. He was gone soon after that.

 

[peterward]

I don't think we're not looking, we're just not publicly shouting about it..... We never do.

Hope you're right but not so sure?

A lot of Villas targets are all over the sports pages and I doubt Villa are publiscising it! it's quite rare that targets can stay discreet.

If we show an interest, unless that player is desperate to play for us alone or the selling club think they've got a best possible price, far more likely the agent and/or selling club leaks it. Having more than one potential suitor is in both selling club and players interest to get best fee and highest possible wages.

 

[zefarelly]

Hopefully Potter's laid back approach is a smokescreen and we have a target lined up.

Hopefully the target can Line up and hit One, smoke screen or not.

At least one acquisition to bolster the squad and
Raise the competition is essential to survival imo. There is a small danger we could-wither like last season

 

[Bakero]

Everton have agreed some sort of deal with Palace. They want Tosun off their books and have allowed Palace to take him on loan, whilst they continue to pay his wages in full( approx £90k ) Looks like they have agreed a price for him at the end of the season ( £16-17m )

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.fo...-eagles-hodgson-everton-transfer-analysis/amp

According to this Palace are paying his £100,000 a week wages plus a £1,000,000 loan fee. Seems more realistic than Everton paying him in full.

 

[Tim Over Whelmed]

You never walk in a car showroom and say "I'd love that car there", regardless of how much you either want the car or need the car. I think he's just playing Tony'd cards close to his chest, after all, he's no doubt been coached by the master.

 

[Mo Gosfield]

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.fo...-eagles-hodgson-everton-transfer-analysis/amp

According to this Palace are paying his £100,000 a week wages plus a £1,000,000 loan fee. Seems more realistic than Everton paying him in full.

Ok....does seem more realistic. My ' Everton insider ' assured me that the two clubs had agreed a post season sale price and as a result of that Everton would still cover his wages. Maybe its just the loan fee involved. I shall direct him towards the article.